Student Organizations and Activities

Student organizations and groups may be established at the University for any legal purpose, provided these groups do not discriminate with regard to race, creed, color, religion or national origin. Affiliation with an extramural organization shall not, in itself, disqualify the institutional branch or chapter from institutional privileges.

Becoming an Official Organization

A group shall become an official campus organization when formally recognized by the Student Government Association and the University’s Executive Council. Groups seeking such status shall proceed as follows:

• Prepare and submit a New Student Organization Application, two (2) copies of the group’s constitution stating its purpose and objectives, and the names, social security numbers, and addresses of proposed officers to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs for review, who will then forward the information to the Student Government Association (SGA) for approval. The SGA presents the submitted material to the Student Senate for approval. (Organizations that do not require a constitution  must include a statement of purpose and objectives with the application.)
• If the SGA/Student Senate approves the organization, the application, constitution, and supporting materials, then its recommendations are forwarded to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• The Vice President for Student Affairs will submit same to the Executive Council for approval.
•  Written notification of the Executive Council’s action shall be given, in writing, to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• Copies of the written approval and the organization’s approved constitution shall be distributed to the SGA, the organization’s advisor and the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
• If the Executive Council approves the organization for official recognition, the organization must then register with the Office of Student Activities.

NOTE: The Executive Council, the major policy-making committee of the University, functions primarily in the area of internal policy. The Council is comprised of  faculty members, students, and administrative officers. With six representatives from each group, the Council operates with eighteen members. The President of the university serves as chairman of the Executive Council.

Student organization(s) that have been approved by the Executive Council and wish to use the University’s name, facilities or property to solicit thereon must submit a completed Student Organization Registration Form prepared by the organization’s advisor within the first three weeks of the fall and spring semesters. The registration form is available on the university network, Orion “O” Drive in the Student Activities Folder. Registration is effective from the date of receipt and approval by the Office of Student Activities until the end of the academic year.

Student organizations must maintain a minimum of ten (10) members to be recognized and considered active. However, the Office of Student Activities upon receipt of a written request may make exceptions from the organization and its advisor.

All organizations that conduct membership intake must belong to either the Pan-Hellenic Council or the Council of Independent Organizations.      

Membership

Membership in student organizations shall be limited to currently enrolled NSU students, faculty and staff of the university, except honor, leadership or recognition societies which may include other persons as provided for in their national constitutions, and in keeping with the educational objectives of the university.

Membership in student organizations shall be open to any student who is willing to subscribe to the stated aims and meet the stated objectives of the organization and the university.      

Supervision

The Office of Student Activities is responsible to the Director of Student Activities/University Center for the supervision of student organizations and activities with the exception of the Student Government Association, which, along with an advisor, is supervised by the Vice President for Student Affairs.       

Advisors

All student organizations are required to have at least one faculty or staff advisor who works closely with the organization and serves as its immediate liaison with the Office of Student Activities. Organizations are also requested to have co-advisors who will work with the advisor and assume responsibilities in the advisor’s absence. Organizations must submit names of the advisor(s) to the Office of Student Activities, which will obtain clearance/approval from the Director of Student Activities/University Center.

An advisor (co-advisor) is herein defined as “any member of the faculty or staff whose duty shall be to counsel and advise the organization and its officers in carrying out the purpose of the organization.”

The advisor(s) are required to: be available to meet with the members of the organization at regular and/or specially called meetings; be present at all activities; and advise the organization on procedural matters, university, local and state policies, rules and regulations, and see that members adhere to same. Advisors must approve all activities of the organization(s) which they advise.        

Officially Recognized Student Organizations

In order for a student organization to maintain its status as an officially recognized organization, the following conditions must be met:

• A current copy of Organizational Constitution and By-Laws must be on file in the Office of Student Activities. An amended or revised constitution must be submitted to the Executive Council for approval.
• A listing of new officers must be submitted to the Office of Student Activities within three (3) weeks of their election.